Selective valve mechanism for hydraulic motors



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April 29, 1947. c. w. MOTT SELECTIVE VALVE MECHANISM FORYHYDRAULIC MOTORS Original Filed Oct. 2, 1941 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. W. MOTT April 29, 1947-.

SELECTIVE VALVE MECHANISM FOR HYDRAULIC MOTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 If l:

Original Filed Oct. 2, 1941 Patented Apr. 29, 1947 SELECTIVE VALVE MECHANISM FOR HYDRAULIC MOTORS Carl W. Mott, La Grange, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company. a corporation of New Jersey Original application October 2, 1941, Serial No. 413,293, now Patent No. 2,337,764, dated Deeember 28, 1943. Divided and this application June 30, 1943, Serial No. 492,859

Claims.

This invention has to do with a valve mechanism for controlling the admission and exhaust of fluid to and from fluid energizable motors to enable an operator to expediently select and control the starting and stopping of such motors.

While the present valve mechanism is particularly useful for selectively controlling the adjustment of fluid-motor adjusted tools upon a motor-propelled vehicle, as shown in copending application Serial No. 413,293, now PatentNo. 2.337,?64, of which this application is a. division, other specific use for this and other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of hydraulic controls.

An important general object of the invention is the provision of a valve mechanism operable to control the motor for a plurality of motordriven parts, and said meehanism including a control lever having motor-selecting positions geometrically correlative-with the positions of said parts driven thereby.

Afurther general object of this invention is the provision of a selective control valve installable upon a motor-driven, movable-part-carrying unit equipped with a fluid pressure-differential source, whereby the unit is easily converted into one whereon the parts are selectively controllable.

Still a further object is the provision of a control valve arrangement in which there are by-pass and selector valves manually settable together and automatically released upon the attainment 01 a, predetermined pressure in the system, thereby adapting the arrangement for use in a hydraulic system supplied with operating liquid by a constantly driven pump.

These and otherdesirable, more specific objects inherent in and encompassed by the invention will be better understood from the ensuing portion of this specification together with the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a. view in elevation and partly in section, on the line I--I of Figure 2, of the combined collective and selective valve control unit;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of a control for a throttling valve shown in Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a view taken in longitudinal section throu h the throttling valve, of which the control is shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a, detail view of the throttling valve control or operating means located in a different adjustment from that shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a view in elevation and in detail of and as.

ior guiding the manually-operable control element; and

Figure 8 is a partly diagrammatic view illustrating that part of the mechanism associated with a pump, together with the mechanism of Figures 1 and 2 and the conduit and operating link connections therebetween.

With continued reference to the drawings, in Figure 1 a. housing 90 of the valve mechanism is shown having a-bracket portion 59 attached by any standard means to a supporting standard 6|. Fluid, such as oil under pressure, from a source, as that shown in said copending application and under control of a lever 9 through a. link 68, can enter the housing which has a laterally extending communicating portion SI containing a channel 9 I, from which the fluid is distributed through a pair of forwardly extending fluid passages 02 and 93. These fluid passages 92 and 93 are laterally spaced with respect to each other and each has a. valve arrangement and its associated operating means. Conduits (not shown) are connectable with threaded outer end portions, as 93*, of the passages 92 and 93 for leading to respective part-operating motors.

Each of the fluid passa es 92 and 93 has opposite valve seats 94 and 95 against which there is seated respectively valve balls 96 and 91. These valve balls are normally held against the valve seats by fluid pressure. They are limited in their movement in the passages by retaining pins 98 Axlally rotatable spindle members I00 extend from a central position between the passages 92 and 93 outwardly respectively into and across said passages. Each spindle has a threaded outer end portion I0| threaded into a threaded recess I02 formed in the housing 90 (see Figure 2). By so threading the rotatable spindles I00 into the recesses I02, they are retained against axial movement and at the same time permitted to rotate. Seals are provided for the spindles I00 by sealing rings I03 retained in position by washers I04 and snap rings I05. The washers I 04 have conical surfaces HIV-which bear against the snap rings I05. By having these surfaces conical, a component of this force acts upon the snap rings I05 to urge the same into recesses I06 therefor in the housing rather than tending, as in the case of a flat washer, to unseat the snap rings. The rotatable members. I 00 have operating portions I01 respectively in the passages 92 and 93 but ing portion III at the suiiiciently thin axially of said members (see Figure 2) as not to passages. These operating portions have countersunk recesses I and I00. These recesses are of sufficient depth to have fitted therein a part of balls H0 and ill (see Figure 1). On each rotatable member I00, there is an operating arm I I2. When either operating arm H2. is operated by means to be hereinafter described. the associated balls H0 and III are caused to move axially through their fluid communications 02 and 03, due to their confinement therein, to unseat the valve balls l8 and 91. 'Thereupon, the" fluid which is delivered to the housing 00 through the communication 02, will pass to the motors (not shown) associated with'the ports I! of the selectively opened valve or valves including the balls 00 and 91 and their valve seats 84 and ll. By employing pairs of opposite ball valves 96 and I1, fluid is not permitted to remain under pressure in intermediate sections II! of the fluid passages 82 and 03. In this manner leakage of fluid, which would tend to pass the sealing rings I03, is kept to a m nim m.

Each of the rotatable members I 00 has an operating arml II, each of which has a boss Ill arranged in transverse alinement with each other when both valves are in the same operating position. The rotatable members mutually carry a sleeve II! from which there extends a pin .III. This pin serves as a means for stabilizing a coil spring I" seated within a recess II! of a single manually operable control element 0 having a handle portion I20 accessible to the operator. This element II! is bifurcated at its lower end to fit about the sleeve I I! about which it is retained by means of pins I2I. The control element is also provided with a slotted portion I22 arranged to receive the transversely extending bosses Ill of the op rating arms H2.

The control element IIO, being thus connected to the sleeve H5. can be moved or deflected laterally to either side to avoid operating relation with the transverse boss or portion v I ll of either operating arm H2. This is illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 2, where the transversely extendleft is out of the slotted portion I22.

The control element or lever II! is movable within a slotted guide-frame I2! therefor secured to the valve housing 90. Three fore and aft slots I24, I30, and I29 are provided in the frame I, as is plainly shown in Figure 7. There is a transverse slot I21, through which the lever H9 is shiftable while in the neutral position, between the slots I29 and I10, and a transverse slot I21", through which the lever is shiftable between the slots I24 and I30 while in the neutral position. Lugs I21 and I21 on the lever Ill are abuttable with stops I26 and I20 on the frame I20, to limit movement of the lever forwardly beyond the neutral position, excepting when a manual force is applied downwardly on the lever handle 01, to press the spring III sufficiently for displacing said lugs I2I and I21 below said stops. When the lever H0 is moved forwardly in any of the frame slots I24, I30, and I2! beyond the neutral position in which it is shown in Figure 7, it is operable through the link 08, Figures 1 and 8, for manipulating a check valve in a manner presently described to permit escape of the fluid from the actuated motor inwardly of the valve mechanism 60 through its associated port, as 03", and past the valve balls 96-91, which will then be unseated by their associated actuator I01, passage materially obstruct said II, and a conduit 02 to and past the aforesaid check valve for discharge back into the pump reservoir 08. The stops I and I2U'are employed to prevent automatic movement of the control lever III forwardly beyond the neutral position under force received from an automatic pump control means, the description of which is begun in the next paragraph. Thus, after the lever I II has been moved rearwardly to cause the introduction of actuating fluid into one or more of the associated motors, the control member H0 may be released for automatic return to the neutral position determined by the stops I20 and I20 7 As stated above, the valve mechanism 00 is adapted for operation in conjunction with a pump, shown in detail in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,337,- 764, having certain automatic control features which are shown herein only to the extent thought necessary to adequately disclose the pres-- shown fragmentarily' ent invention. Saidpump, at P in Figure 8, is constantly driven and bypasses the fluid at low pressure through a port 14 back into a reservoir casing ll therefor, exceptlng when a by-pass valve sleeve II is moved rearwardly (to the left as viewed in Figure 8) into the ort ll. The by-pass valve sleeve II is shifted axially by a lever ll pivoted at 00 and having bifurcations B connected with the sleeve by pins PI projecting radially therefrom. Rocking of the lever I! for shifting the by-pass sleeve II is incurred by a stud ST slidable in a slot BL of an arm AM of such lever and this stud is carried on the lower end of a lever '05 pivoted at II on a reservoir wall. The link 00 connects the lever GI with the control lever H0, so these two levers operate in concert.

Upon closing the by-pass valve II-I0 by backward movement of the link It when the control lever H0 is moved counter-clockwise from the neutral as viewed in Figures 1 and 8, sufficient pressure will be incurred in the pump discharge channel II to project a plunger PL- upwardly against a latch lever 11 to pivot the same clockwise for dropping a latching face 11 thereof behind a latching face 10 pivoted clockwise from the position shown in Figure 8) to prevent opening of the by-pass valve ll-ll by a spring 8? which tends to rotate the lever I0 counter-clockwise, though the lever H0 is released. Some of the fluid in the pump discharge passage II flows through the sleeve II to a pressure relief valve 03 which has a cap ll movable upwardly against a pad 00 on the latch lever to unlatch the faces 11' and 10 upon the attainment of a high pressure in the discharge channel when the motors reach a limit of their operating range. Until this high pressure is reached, the control lever II! will remain in its backward position, but, when the latch faces 11 and II are unlatched, the spring SP will rotate the lever 10 counter-clockwise, opening the bypass valve 1|I5, and will rotate the lever 0| clockwise, pulling the link as and the lever in forwardly to the neutral position determined by the stops MI -I26 on the lever guide frame I8. The motor or motors which will have just been energized will remain in that condition until the lever II! is pressed downwardly and moved forwardly past neutral as explained above. This forward movement of the lever I I! past the neutral position is effective through the link 00 and an extension 81 on the lever I0 08 rearwardly to open the aforesaid check valve in the pump by unseating its ball 10 from its seat on the lever I0 (then' to move a pin' auacoe 13'. This check valve is in series with the conduit 92 and the pump reservoir 99, so that upon the concurrent opening of the set or'sets of valve balls 96-91 by the torward-past-neutral movement of lever II9, communication will be cleared between the energized motor or motors and the reservoir to permit discharge from the motor to the reservoir and return of parts associated with the deenergized motor or motors to an initial position.

It is emphasized that the present valve mechanism is installable as upon a tractor for converting a fluid power arrangement of a type adapted for simultaneous operation of working tools into a fluid power arrangement where either selective or simultaneous movement of the working tools located at opposite sides of the tractor can be effected, and that this effect is accomplished by a single operating lever accessible to the operator's station on the tractor. This control valve mechanism is of a type which can be connected to the tractor as a unit and only minimum effort is required for the attachment of the same with the usual fluid power arrangement.

Associated with this combined unit 89 is a throttle valve I33 having a small portl35 extending diametrically through the same in one direction and a large port I36 extending through the same at an angle of 90 with respect-to the smaller port. This throttle valve element I33 is journaled in the housing 99 and can be turned through 90 by means of an operating handle I31 likewise accessible to the vehicle opera-tor. Normally the operating lever I31 is in the position shown in Figure with its lug portion I38 abutting a stop element I39 on the housing 99. With the throttle valve I33 turned to this position the large port I38 is aiined with. a vertically extending fluid passage I40 in the housing 99. When it is desired to effect slow power adjustment of the parts such as the aforesaid tillage tools, the throttle valve I99 is turned by the operating handle I31 until 9. lug I4I thereon abuts the stop I39. When the throttle valve I 33 is turned to this position, the small port I35 is then alined with the passage I49. This port I39 will allow fluid to pass through the passage I49 at a slower rate. By the operator then utilizing the control element H9 in the manner already described, he may now effect at raising and lowering of the tools at a much reduced speed, whereby a delicate adjustment oi the working tools can be effected. During this operation, the operator would continue to hold the handlefI2Il of the lever and, when the working tools have reached the position desired, the. handle will be moved manually to its neutral position.

Operation of the device In describing the operation of the device, it will be assumed to be incorporated into a fluid-medium power-operated system for raising tillage tools installed at opposite sides of a tractor. The pump P will be constantly driven from the tractor engine. A conduit (not shown) will lead from the valve port 93 to a fluid-actuated motor (not shown) which is operably connected with the tillage tool on the right side of the tractor and operable when energized by the pressure of fluid subjected thereto to raise the tillage tool in opposition'to the force of gravity. A second motor (not shown) is similarly associated with the tillage tool at the left-side of the tractor and is connected by a conduit (not shown) with a port valve pasto simultaneously raise these tools above the ground to a transport position. Such raising of the tools is brought about by moving the control lever II9 backwardly in the slot I39 from the neutral position. While the lever H9 is in the slot I39, the loop I22 therein engages both bosses 4' upon the levers II2, wherefore both of these levers will be pivoted backwardly or counterclockwise, as viewed in Figures 1, 6, and 8, causing both of the ball actuators I91 to unseat their balls 99 and 91 and thus open both valves of the device 99. Concurrently with this backward movement of the lever II9, it is operable through the link 69 to close the pump by-pass valve, which will be retained closed by the automatic latch mechanism including the plunger PL and the latch lever 11 described above. Thereupon the constantly driven pump will force fluid past the check valve 1916' into the conduit 62 and thence into the channel 9i in the valve mechanism 69 and forwardly through-the passages 92 and 93 to the tool-lifting motors. When the motors reach their limit of operation concurrently with having raised the tools, a consequent rise in pressure of the pumped fluid will lift the cap on the pressure relief valve 93 to pivot the latch lever 11 for unlatching the bypass valve lever 19, whereupon the spring SP will pivot the levers 19 and 65 to respectively open.

the by-pass valve and concurrently exert a force in a forward direction upon the link 66 and the lever H9. The lever H9 is thus moved forwardly until the bosses I21 and I21 abut the stops I28 and I26. Pressure fluid within the forward ends of the channels 92 and 93 will then seat the balls 91, and the check valve 16-16 in the pump will also become seated, cooperating with the balls 91 in providing a double check preventing the escape of the fluid from the motors and thereby maintaining the tools raised.

Should it be desired to lower both of the tools, the operator will press downwardly upon the handle of the lever II9 for displacingthe lug formation I21 -I21 beneath the stops I29 and I29 and move the lever forwardly in that part of the slot I99 ahead of the neutral position. Again the loop I22 in the lever engages both of the bosses II4 on the valve-actuating levers II2, causing both actuators I91 to be rotated for unseating both sets of valve balls 9991. At the same time, the lever H9 is operable through the link 99, lever 19, its extension 31, and the axially movable pin 89 for opening the pump check valve,

so the entire passage between the motors and the pump reservoir is cleared to permit the fluid in the motors, under the pressure developed there-' in by the gravitational force upon the tools, to escape back to the pump reservoir as the tools descend.-

Should it be desired to cause only the tool at the right side of the tractor to be raised, the control lever II9 will be shifted sidewise while in the neutral position through the frame slot I 21 (Figure 7) into the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, disengaging the loop I22 of this lever from the boss I I4 01 the left actuating lever II2. While the control lever H9 is in this tilted position within the slot I24, the loop I22 still embraces the boss II4 on the right actuating lever II2, so that, upon subsequent backward movement of the lever II9, the rightmost actuating lever III will be moved backwardly, rotating the valve ball actuator I01 associated there-- with for unseating its valve balls 98 and 81. As before, the backwardly pulled lever H9 is operable through the link 60 to condition the pump for delivering fluid through the passage cleared by the nnseating of the balls 96 and 91 in passage 93 with which the motor for raising the tool at the right side of the tractor is associated. Accordingly, that motor is energized and its tool at the right side of the tractor is raised. Since the balls 98 and 91 in the left-hand passage 82 were not unseated by the backward movement of the lever H9, the tool at the left-hand side of the tractor will remain down. Upon release of the control lever following the movement of it to the back end of the guide-frame slot I24, the

same sequence of operations takes place as described above following movement of the lever to the back end-of the center guide-frame slot I30, resulting in automatic return of the lever to the neutral position within the slot in which it is disposed and the opening of the pump bypass valve, while the pump check valve and the valve ball 91 prevent discharge of fluid from the actuated motor, whereby the tool is retained elevated. Subsequent forward movement of the control lever H9 in the slot I24, following downward movement of this lever to place the lug l2! below the stop I26, will be effective through the link 66 and through the right-hand actuator III! for unseating the pump check valve and the right-hand ball set 88-41, to permit the escape of fluid from the motor associated with the righthand tool to the pump reservoir to permit this tool to drop to the ground-engaging position.

Operation for the left-hand tool involves the same operations as just explained with respect to the right-hand tool with the exception that the control le'ver I I9 will be operated backwardly and forwardly in the left-hand guide-frame slot I 9.

During slow adjustment of the tools while the throttling valve is set as illustrated in Figure 4,-

the excess fluid pumped by the pump can escape at high pressure through the relief valve (Figure 8). a

An important operating feature of the present valve mechanism is its operation in correlation with the natural muscular reflexes of an operator, making a training period unnecessary for the operator. In the selection of a tool for operation, the operator will instinctively shift the control lever H9 toward the side of the machine where the tool is disposed and he will also instinctively thereafter push the lever forwardly and downwardly to lower the tool, or backwardly and upwardly to raise the tool. To lower and raise both tools, the operator instinctively performs the same fore and aft manipulations of the lever in the center guide slot of the frame I25.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment with the view of illustrating the invention, it should be understood that the invention extends to other forms, arrangements, structures and details falling within the scope and spirit thereof and not sacrificin all of its material advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. In a system for controlling the delivery of actuating fluid from a constant delivery pump to a motor actuated when subjected to the pressure of fluid delivered from the pump, the combination of a control valve, conduit means comprising a trunk portion communicating between the pump manipulated in the direction to establish said communication between the conduit portions and for opening the by-pass valve when manipulated in the direction for terminating such communication, means urging the control member in the communication terminating position, means for automatically 'releasably maintaining the control member in the communication establishing position, means responsive to a predetermined pressure of the pumped fluid for releasing the maintaining means to initiate manipulation of the control member to the communication terminating position by said urging means, and stop means normally limiting manipulation of the control member to the communication terminating position under the influence of said urging means, but said control member being manually manipulatable beyond said position to open the control valve for establishing communication between said conduit portions and said by-pass valve remaining open during the manual manipulation of the control member beyond the communication terminating position.

2. In a system for controlling the delivery of actuating fluid from a constant delivery pump to a motor actuated when subjected to the pressure of fluid delivered from the pump, the combination of a control valve, conduit means comprising a trunk portion communicating between the pump outlet and said valve and a portlon communicating between said valve and the motor,

a control member for said valve manipulative in opposite directions for establishing and terminating communication between the conduit portions, a by-pass valve operable when open to by-pass the pumped fluid from the pump and operable when closed to direct the pumped fluid into the trunk conduit portion under pressure, 7

connecting means connecting the valve control member with the by-pass valve for closing the same when manipulated in the direction to establish said communication between the conduit portions and for opening the by-pass valve when manipulated in the direction for terminating such communication, means urging the control member in the communication terminating position, means for automatically releasably maintaining the control member in the communication establishing position, means responsive to a predetermined pressure of the pumped fluid for releasing the maintaining means to initiate manipulation of the control member to the communication terminating position by said urging means; a check valve in series with the trunk conduit portion to prevent discharge from the motor through the conduit means when closed, said control member being operable to open the control valve when manipulated back to and beyond the communication terminating position to reestablish such communication, and means operable under control of said control member to open said check valve pursuant to such manipulation beyond the communication terminating position.

3. m a system for controlling the delivery of actuating fluid from a constant delivery pump to a motor actuated when subjected to the pressure of fluid delivered from the pump, the combination of a control valve, conduit means comprising a trunk portion communicating between the pump outlet and said valve and a portion communicating between said valve and the motor, a control member for said valve manipulative in opposite directions for establishing and terminating communication between the conduit member with the by-pass valve for closing the same when manipulated in the direction to establish said communication between the conduit portions and for opening the by-pass valve when.

manipulated in the direction for terminating such communication, a check valve in series with the trunk conduit portion to prevent discharge from the motorthrough the conduit means when closed, said control member being operable to open the control valve when manipulated back v terminating position.

lish said communication between the conduit portions and for opening the by-pass valve when manipulated in the direction for terminating establishing position, means responsive to a predetermined pressure 6f the pumped fluid for releasing the maintaining means to initiate manipulation of the control member to the communication terminating position by said urging means, a check valve in series with the trunk conduit portion to prevent discharge from the motor through the conduit means when closed, said control member being operable to open the control valve when manipulated back to and beyond the communication terminating position to ,reestablish such communication, stop means normally limiting manipulation of the control member to the communication terminating position under the influence of said urging means, but said control member being manually manipulatable beyond said position to open the control valve without closing the by-pass valve, and means operable under control of said control member to open said check valve Pursuant to such manipulation beyond said position.

4. In a system for controlling the delivery of actuating fluid from a constant delivery pump to a motor actuated when subjected to the pressure of fluid delivered from the pump, the combination of a control valve, conduit means comprising a trunk portion communicating between the pump outlet and said valve and a portion communicating between said valve and the motor, a control member for said'valve manipulative in opposite directions for establishing and terminating communication between the conduit portions, a by-pass valve operable when open to by-pass the pumped fluid from the pump and operable when closed to direct the pumped fluid into the trunk conduit portion under pressure, connecting means connecting the valve control 5 In combination, a main valve mechanism conditionable to create a, high fluid pressure condition therein, an auxiliary valve mechanism adiustable between open, neutral and exhaust positions and including a control element movable into corresponding positions to efiect said ad- :lustments, a, conduit interconnecting said valve mechanisms to contribute to establishment of communication between the main valve and a place of discharge when the control element is in either the open position or the exhaust position, the auxiliary valve mechanism being in neutral and closed to preclude communication between the place of discharge and the main valve mechanism when the control element is in the neutral position, means connecting the condition in such main valve mechanism.

CARL W. Mm.

REFERENCES orrm The following references are of record in the flle of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,265,260 Argo Dec. 9, 1941 2,298,267 Alderman Oct. 13, 1942 2,238,374 Sallee Apr. 15, 1941 2,243,364 Trautman May 2'1, 1941 2,324,866 Mott July 20, 1943 2,213,401 Lindgren Sept. 3, 1940 2,094,466 Proctor Sept. 28, 1937 1,968,422

Proctor July 31, 1934 

